The Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, Oyo State Chapter has enjoined the newly sworn in Governor of Oyo State Engineer Oluseyi Abiodun Makinde to give sports more attention.
In a congratulatory message signed by Oyo SWAN Chairman Niyi Alebiosu and the Association’s Secretary Adewale Tijani, the Association of Sports Writers advised the eighth Executive Governor of Oyo state to make revival of sports in the state the top priority of his administration.
Oyo SWAN appealed to the new Governor to ensure that the agencies saddled with responsibility of managing and administering sports in the state – the State Ministry of Youths and Sports and the State Sports Council are well funded, while their staff are given incentives through regular training and provision of enabling conditions that will make them perform satisfactorily.
“Oyo state is blessed with talented youths who needed to be groomed. We also have good coaches who can nurture these raw talents to stardom. What are needed are adequate funding and provision of enabling environments for the kids and their officials to perform”, Oyo SWAN pointed out in the congratulatory message.
The Association stated that revival of sports will empower youths in the state and also bring back the good old days when the state was one of Nigeria’s power houses in sports.
Oyo SWAN further urges the new helmsman in the pacesetter state to give maximum supports to the two leading football clubs in the state, Shooting Stars Sports Club of Ibadan and Crown of Ogbomoso which are striving to return to the elite division of Nigerian football league.
“The two leading football clubs in the state, Shooting Stars Sports Club and Crown Football Club are presently doing well in their mission to gain promotion to the Nigerian Professional Football League. With the two clubs on top of their respective groups’ tables, necessary support should be given to them by Your Excellency to ensure that their dreams became reality”, the Association advised.
While expressing optimism that the new Governor as a sports lover will heed their advice and promote sports in the state, Oyo SWAN assured the new Governor that the Association is ready to assist his administration in areas of publicity and agenda setting.
The Association then prayed that God should guide Governor Seyi Makinde and make his tenure a big success.
